Circuit for coin-collectors.



PATENTED APR. 16, 190 '7. H. D. CURRIER.

CIRCUIT FOR COIN COLLECTORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13, 1906.

llllllllllllllllllh Illlflllllllllllllf UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM D. CURRIER, OF cIIIo Co, IiiIiIiioIs, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM D. CURRIER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinols, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuits for Coin-Collectors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description.

My invention relates to a coin-collecting telephone system; and its object is to provide an Improved coin-controlled circuit for use with coin-collectors where a plurality of coins may be required for a connection.

My inventlon more particularly relates to means for testing at the central oflice to determine if the rcauisite number of coins have been deposite In my invention the branch circuit, which includes the usual coin-operating magnet, also includes a resistance which controls the display of a test-signal at the central oflice.

A short circuit of said resistance has coincontrolled contacts, the display of the testsi gna l depending on the closure of said short circuit.

I will describe my invention more particularly by reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic view showing a telephone system embodying my invention and illustrating by conventlonal symbols the apparatus at a subscribers statlon and. at the central ofiice.

I have chosen a well-known t pe of cord and line circuit with which to iliilstrate my invention, and hence a detailed description to the use of three coins to secure a connec tion and means for testing for the third coin;

but I do not wish to limit myself to any particular number of coins, as it is evident a lesser or greater number may be provided for without departing from my invention.

In series with the magnet M is a high noninductive resistance R and 'normall open contacts a and -b. A A short circuit 0 reslstance R is normally open at contact 0. It will Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 1a, 1906. Serial No. 300.933.

c ncuri' FOR COIN-COLLECTORS.

- Yatented April 16,1967.

be understood that, as usual, the first coin 1 to be deposited passes over contacts c-a'nd b and rests in position to close contact a. The second coin 2 passes over contact- 0 and rests in position to close contact I), thereb lighting the line-lamp, as will be hereina er described. l'he first coin deposited, therefore, by closing contact a. merel prepares the circuit for the operation oi the line-lamp upon the deposit of a second coin. Although the closing of contact'a produces no immediate result, such normally open contact is preferably provided in order that when the first coin rides over contact b it will not thereby temporarily close the signal-(tin cuit and flash the line-lamp. The third coin deposited closes contact 0, thereby short-,cir-

cuiting resistance It. e

The operation of the system is as follows: A subscriber desiring a connection deposits coin 1 in the coin-receiving apparatus, thereby closing contact 0,.v The deposit of a second coin 2 closes contact 6, thereby completing a signaling-circuit from ground at the subscribers station through contacts I) a, resistance R, magnet M, the tip side of the line, relay f, battery B to ground at the central station. The relay f operates its armature to close a local circuit, including lamp L or other signal at the central ofiice. The operator observing the signal inserts her answering-plug 'n, in the spring-jack, 0 and ascertains the subscriber's wishes in the usual manner.

In case the deposit of a third coin is required of the calling subscriber m invention provides a simple means for enab ing the op erator at the central office to determine whether or not the third coin has been deposited. If a third coin has not been deposited when the operator actuates her testkey it, the circuit closed from ground at the central ol'lice through battery B, test-relay e,

the tip side of the line to ground through branch g, includes resistance R, the short circuit thereof being open at contact 0. Owing to said high resistance R, sufficient current does not flow through the line to operate relay e, and hence if a third coin has not been deposited the test-lamp L is not lighted when the test-key 7c is operated. If the third coin has been deposited, thereby shortcircuiting resistance R, suflicient current flows through the circuit when test-key k is operated to cause the display of test-signal L.

It Will be noted that my invention provides for a ositive test-signal-that is, the testl amp ights when the third coin is in position.

The depositing or refunding of the coins is accomplished in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim I 1. The combination with a signaling-circuit including an indicatin device, of normally open contacts in sai circuit adapted to be closed by a coin to actuate the indicating device, an electromagneticallyoperated test signaling device adapted to be connected to said circuit, a resistance in thercircuit nor mally rendering said signaling device inoperative, and a normally open short circuit of said resistance having coin-controlled contacts.

2. The combination with a signaling-circuit, of two electromagnetically-operated signaling devices, a resistance in the circuit normally rendering one of said signaling devices inoperative, a normally open contact in the circuit adapted tolte closed by a coin to actuate the normally operative signaling device,- and a short circuit of said resistance having normally open contacts adapted to be closed by an additional coin, thereby permit ting the operation of the normally inoperative signaling device.

3. In a telephone system, the combination with a signaling-circuit extending from a subscribers station to a central oflice, of an electromagnetically-operated line -signal in said circuit, a normally open contact in said circuit adapted to be closed by a coin to actuate said line-signal, an electromagneticallyoperated test-signal adapted to be connected to said circuit, means for normally rendering said test-signal inoperative, and means, controlled by an additional coin, for causing the display of. the test-signal.

4. The combination with a telephone-line, extending from a subscribers station to a central office, of a coin-receiving apparatus at the substation, a branch circuit of said telephone-line, two normally open contacts in said branch circuit adapted to be closed respectively by the deposit of two coins in said coin-receiving apparatus, a signal in the circuit at the central oflice, operated upon closure of both'of said contacts, an electromagnetically-operated test-signal adapted to be connected to said circuit, and means controlled by an additional coin, for controlling the display of the test-signal.

5. The combination with a telephone-line,-

extending from a subscribers station to a central oflice, of a coin-receiving apparatus at the substation, a branch circuit of saidteleph'one-line, two normally open contacts in said branch circuit adapted to be closed respectivelyby the deposit oftwo coins in said coin-receiving apparatus, and a signal in the circuit at, the central office, operated upon closure of both of said contacts, a test-signal adapted to be connected to the line, a resistance in said branch circuit norrhally'preventing the display of said test-signal, and ashort circuit of said resistance having a nora mally open contact adapted to be closed by the deposit of a third coin in said coin-receiving apparatus.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of January, A. D. 1906.

' HIRAM 1). summit.

. Witnesses:

RoY T. ALLoWAY, E. F. BEAUBI'EN. 

